Green Skills and Energy Efficiency Training
Do you want to be part of the NSW training response for a greener and more efficient economy?
State Training Services provides funding for:
- green skills and energy efficiency training courses
- professional development for teachers, assessors and RTOs
- in some cases, the development of training resources or training support activities.
On this page:
Funding
Subsidies are available for training through the Green Skills and Energy Efficiency Strategy. [pdf 48kB]
Courses must have a sustainability or energy efficiency focus and count towards national qualifications; this includes accredited courses. Examples of appropriate course content could be:
- integrating sustainability into business planning and operations
- developing energy-saving and environmentally sustainable work practices
- installing, maintaining and adapting new technologies, products and services
- improving understanding about the principles and practice of environmental sustainability.
To be eligible for these subsidies RTOs must:
- have the relevant qualifications and units on their scope of registration
- be on the NSW Department of Education and Communities Approved Providers List; have tendered a price for the units they wish to use in the Strategic Skills Program (SSP); or partner with an organisation that has the units on their SSP scope.
Talk to your local State Training Services Centre to discuss access to training assistance - phone 13 28 11.
In cases where new units and qualifications are endorsed during the life of the APL tender, DEC may consider adding RTOs to the APL or altering their scope midway through the tender.
The Green and Energy Efficiency Training Units [pdf 320kB] list contains the units of competency, accredited courses and full qualifications which are directly relevant to energy efficiency and green skills training. Please note that this list is subject to change as Training Packages are modified.
You may also wish to use other units. In some cases, RTOs incorporate a green dimension into generic units through customisation.
Partnering with environmental/technical experts to deliver high quality training in new and emerging areas is encouraged.
Note that the solar and heat pump hot water transition training for plumbers is a specialist program supporting the phase-out of electric hot water systems.
Promoting your green training course
We encourage you to promote your courses on the Green Skills NSW Course Finder. The Course Finder is an easy to use, searchable website that allows businesses and individuals to find qualifications and courses with a sustainability or energy efficiency focus.
You can upload and promote the details of accredited training on the Course Finder website, whether or not the training is eligible for DEC funding. Training organisations can register a course if it:
- is delivered in NSW
- aligns to national qualifications or courses, and
- enables people to protect, improve or reduce harm to the environment in the context of their lives and work.
Download Information Sheet [pdf 115kB]
Please note - the Course Finder website lists training courses that RTOs add onto it. It does not contain all green skills courses in NSW.
Professional development for trainers
VET professionals who fully understand sustainability concepts and the Principles of Environmental Education are vital in supporting industry and learners to work towards a sustainable future.
A number of professional development opportunities are available for VET professionals to improve their expertise in this area, which may attract funding under the Strategy.
Building Sustainability in VET (formerly Green Skills for VET)
This is a one-day introductory course run by expert presenters as part of State Training Services professional development calendar. The course looks at:
- the current sustainability agenda in VET
- the RTO and VET practitioner as role models for sustainable practice
- establishing credibility as a provider working in this field
- supporting industry in improving sustainability.
Community of Practice in Sustainability
The Community of Practice in Sustainability (COPS) is a new network for Vocational Education and Training practitioners, business and industry representatives who share an interest, passion and expertise in sustainability training in the NSW VET sector.
The aim of the community of practice is to promote excellence, collaboration and participation in VET sustainability training. A participant at the launch of the COPS described it as “an exciting opportunity to share the knowledge, skills and training we’ve received."
Planning for events in 2012 is currently underway. Each event will feature ongoing professional development including high profile guest speakers and opportunities for participants to share information and network. To have your say on future COPS activities, please complete our survey.
For more information about the COPS or to find out how you can be involved, please email greenskills@det.nsw.edu.au or contact Nanda Almeida (02) 9266 8123 or Leigh Mabin on (02) 9244 5373.
NSW Vocational Graduate Certificate in Education and Training for Sustainability (VGC ETfS)
The Vocational Graduate Certificate in Education and Training for Sustainability (22060VIC) is delivered in NSW by the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne University, winners of the 2010 National Sustainability Training Provider Award.
State Training Services is supporting over 80 NSW VET practitioners to attain the qualification in the period 2010-2012.
You can register your interest about participating in future offerings of this course supported by State Training Services by emailing greenskills@det.nsw.edu.au
Professional Development for VET Practitioners in Energy Efficiency
High quality energy efficiency training resources are being developed through a series of projects funded by DEC and the Office of Environment and Heritage. The materials aim to improve the energy efficiency expertise of VET practitioners enabling them to deliver energy efficiency focused training in a range of subject areas.
Professional development workshops for VET professionals which deliver the training materials produced and funded by State Training Services are being offered now. Check the PD Workshops timetable for more details.
The training resources can be downloaded free of charge from the Skills Online website.
Resource materials and support
Click through to Teaching and Learning Resources to help you integrate them into your training. Resources range from useful reports and websites to online videos and environmental calculators.
Training and assessment materials that link directly to national qualifications can be found in the 'green training' section of the SkillsOnline website.
The Education for Sustainability (EfS) Professional Learning Hub is an interactive online learning network that supports sustainability professionals who use Education for Sustainability to create change. The Hub is a platform for learning and exchange, and working to connect, equip and motivate.
The Green skills business pages provide information for small and medium-sized businesses on environmental best practice, compliance and government support, as well as a collection of training stories from different industries.
